Barcelona Flashcards
Population
1.6 million
Percentage of Spain’s exports originating in Barcelona
25%
Tourists per year
7-8 million
Barcelona per 19th century
Roman settlement - tightly packed medieval city
Well established by 15th century and the city received and sent goods
Barcelona industrialisation
Cotton, cork, iron and steel, shipbuilding and wine industries
Barcelona industrialisation impact on population
Densely populated housing - poor health
Medieval walls knocked down and growth spread out
Population grew from 115,000 in 19th century to 1 million by 1930
Culture
Links with Paris and movements eg Art Nouveau
Political events in the 2nd half of the 19th century
Catalan resurgence
Spanish Civil War in 1936, centre of Republican opposition to the Nationalists (Franco)
City taken by Nationalists in 1939 - Catalan culture suppressed
1975 Franco Death - renaissance
Rebranding: Olympic Games (Sport)
1992 Olympic Games
Used games for city-wide redevelopment - harbours and beaches
Poblenou - Olympic Village and now home of Barcelona’s knowledge economy
Presented as a ‘one city’ exercise and unite the city, not just top down
Catalan pride and identity
Rebranding: Barcelona Football Club (Sport)
Camp Nou
98,000 spectators
Largest football stadium in Spain and Europe
Role of architecture
Antoni Gaudi - World Heritage Sites by UNESCO
Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo attract tourists
Role of culture
Universal Forum of Cultures 2004
Art Galleries, museums, restaurants, cafes, architecture - promote city
Role of business
‘Strategic Metropolitan Plan of Barcelona - Vision 2020’
2014 - city given title of European Capital of Innovation by the EU
Why the Raval required rebranding
Densely populated urban areas
Textile industry, brick making etc - polluting and tenement blocks housed workers
Immigrants near port southern rival - cheap lodgings in run-down tenements and informal employment - illegal activities reputation
Spatial variation in rebranding of the Raval
Differed between north and south
North raval rebranding
Flagship cultural buildings - Museum of Contemporary Art
Private universities
Art galleries, restaurants, quality food shops
Associated with gentrification - high socio economic status people have moved in
South raval rebranding - raval rambla
Raval Rambla - 1700 properties demolished for a large, tree-lined pedestarianised space
New housing for residents displaced by the scheme
Student accommodation
South raval rebranding scheme cost
5 million euros (80% from EU funding)
Private investment in South raval
Barcelo Raval Hotel - avant garde design
Casa Camper Hotel
Contested rebranding in the Raval - why are there social tensions?
In-migration of wealthy residents - different perspectives on management of area and employment opportunities in demand = social tension
Contested rebranding in the Raval - property conflicts
Raised prices and some landlords want existing residents to leave to allow them to cash in (pressure applied)
Protest graffiti common on these properties
